Queries

Queries

The following are queries submitted by our members concerning families they are researching. Except where indicated, these families are from the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. To make a connection with the individual who is interested in the query, follow the instructions in the query, or contact me at GeorgeJK676@wi.rr.com and I will forward your correspondence to the person who posted the query.

Submitted by George Koleas (1527)

Sue Bollinger of Renton, Washington, is looking for information on her grandparents, Vincenzo Dentici and Anna Busalacchi. She believes that her grandfather came to Milwaukee in 1907 and her grandmother came later in 1912 with their two children, Carmella and Gaetana Dentice. Her grandparents had eight more children born in Milwaukee for a total of 10 children. They were Maria, Vincenza (Jennie, here mother), Rose, Frank, Salvatore, Sebastian, Mario, and John. Vincenzo Dentici was born Mar 7, 1878 and died April 28, 1963. Anna Busalacchi was born July 26, 1884 in Palermo and died December 15, 1968.

Antoinette Alioto Canepa of San Francisco, California, is looking for information on her Alioto family. Her father was Francesco Alioto. He was born in 1896 in Santa Elia. His father was Giuseppe Alioto and his mother was Stefana Balistrieri. Her mother, Concetta Balistreri was born in San Francisco in 1899. Concetta’s father was Francesco Balistrieri and her mother was Anna Machi.

Jim Gumina is looking for information on his Gumina and Zizzo families. He writes, “My grandfather, Vincenzo, had a first cousin named Providenza, who married a Balistreri. She then married his brother when he passed away. I know of two of her brothers, Paolo born in 1894, and Francesco born in 1913. My great-grandfather's nephew, Vincenzo Gumina, born in 1873, went to Milwaukee in 1909. Other Gumina family names include Vincenzo (died 1961) and Frances (Francesca, died 1971), Sam (died 1972)and Concetta (died 1962), Tom (died 1983)and Katherine(died1961). The names I have not found anything for are Joseph Gumina (died 1969), Joseph Gumina (died 1974). I have a Paolo Gumina in 1724 in Solanto, and his brother Gioacchino in Bagheria around the same time. I am also trying to link the Guminas of Santa Elia to the Guminas of Bagheria.”

Jo Ann and Louis Sanfilippo is looking for information on their Sanfilippo family. Their grandmother and grandfather came to America from Bronte in 1906 or 1907 Louis’ grandfather was Arcongolo Sanfilippo. Arcongolo was married to Maria Stella Viola. They immigrated with a daughter who later died. Louis Sanfilippo was the first child born in America to this family in 1908.

Francesco Dentici and Carmela Megna. Their birth dates are estimated to be about 1855 and 1860.
Battista (probably Giovanni Battista) Deluca, born about 1880. We think he was married to his niece Caterina Balistreri (daughter of Antonina Deluca and Gaetano Balistreri). Caterina may have been also married to another Giovanni Battista DeLuca who is the son of Francesco Deluca and Caterina Balistreri.
There were two Costa families in the Milwaukee Area. One is my Joseph Costa family. Joseph was married to Concetta Alioto. The other is the family of Salvatore Costa, who was born about 1935. He married Valencia LaBarbera about 1955. She was the daughter of Gaetano LaBarbera and Rosa SanFilippo. She was born May 11, 1928 in West Allis, Wisconsin. Their children are John, born about. 1956, Donna, born about 1957 and Thomas, born about 1958.

Peter Bellanti's’s family research includes his wife's LaJoie genealogy, which with related surnames, contains 1268 individuals, and 459 families that date back to the year 1180 in the City State of Fierenza (present day Florence Italy); his maternal Buscaglia ancestors, which with related surnames, contains 1788 individuals and 532 families that date back to 1703 in the Commune of Montemaggiore Belsito, Province of Palermo, Sicily and finally, his paternal Bellanti ancestors, which with related surnames contains 10,154 individuals and 3,222 families that date back to 1690 in the communes of Sant' Elia, Porticello, Solanto and Santa Flavia.

In the course of this extensive research, he has complied information on 100’s of other family trees that are connected to his ancestors by marriage and not by blood. These trees, especially the Bellanti's from Sant' Elia, Porticello, Solanto and Santa Flavia contain 100s (perhaps approaching 1000s) of other related family trees. These family trees include such surnames such as AFFATIGATO, AIELLO, ALIOTO, AMATO, ARENA, ARIOTO, ASCIUTTO, BALESTERI, BALESTREIRE, BALESTRERE, BALESTRERI, BALESTRIERI, BALISTERI, BALISTRERI, BALISTRIERI, BASILE, BATTAGLIA, BELLANTE, BELLANTI, BILLANTE, BUSALACCHI, BUSALACHI, BUTTITA, BUTTITTA, BUTTONE, CEFALU, COLLA, CONTORNO, CORONA, CORRAO, CRISCI, CRIVELLO, D'ACQUISTO, D'AMATO, D'AMICO, DAMATO, DENTICE, DENTICI, DESALVO, FRITTATA, FRITTITTA, GALIOTO, GUARDALABENE, GUMINA, LALICATA, LAMONICA, LATONA, LOCOCO, LUPO, MACHI, MARINO, MARTARANO, MARTORANA, MARTORANO, MERCURIO, MESSINA, PIZZO, PURPURA, SANFILIPPO, SCARDINA, SCOLA, SORCE, SPARACINO, SQUATRITO, STORNIOLO, TAGLIAVIA, TAORMINA, TAORMINO, TARANTINO, VETRANO, VILLA , VITRANO, ZANCA Because of the traditional way the "Sant' Elioti" and adjoining towns married, his information captures 80 to 90% of the surnames that originated from these towns.

His research of Buscaglia from Montemaggiore Belsito have found family trees which include such surnames as Giallombardo, Genco, Incao, Muscarella, Pasquale, Pellegrino, Sciarrino, Traficante and more.

Peter maintains an extensive website located at www.bellanti.org. On his web page you will find the histories of Sicily, the two Sicilian communes of Sant' Elia and Montemaggiore Belsito, and the family trees for LaJoie, Buscaglia and Bellanti along with many other related families.

Gayle Licari, (1231), writes: “Cristina LICARI m. an Unknown BRUCELLATO. He passed away between 1926-1930. She then married Leonardo D' ANNA...He died in 1963. She died prior to him. I think Cristina's brother, Michele "Michael" LICARI m. Josephine SAN FILIPPO and his younger sister, Antonina LICARI m. Peter SAN FILIPPO. There sons and daughter and eventually their Mom moved to Southern California San Diego area. I am trying to find out who Peter and Josephine San Filippo’s parents were. Also, the first name for Cristina's first husband. I am not certain the spelling of his last name is correct. They had a son who was b. 1926 named Joseph BRUCELLATO. They were from San Giuseppe Jato, and San Cipirello, Palermo, Sicily and came to Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Madison in 1905 for the LICARI's. The San FILIPPO's, I am not certain, but they were in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Cristina LICARI D'ANNA and Leonardo D' ANNA were in West Allis, Wisconsin. Her siblings married with DARONEs, SANFILIPPOs, DI PIAZZAs, FIOREs, CARUSOs, LICARIs, ZICHICHIs.”

Sandra Clark is looking for any descendants of NOTARI that settled in Milwaukee in
the 1870's or 1880's. The name may have been changed to NODARY. There
was a Frances NOTARI that married a Nicholas ROMANO in 1900 and a Rosa
NOTARI who married a Filippo MASCARI in 1903.

Andrea Busalacchi is looking for the information on the following:

Antonino BUSALACCHI, B-1775 Sant Elia D- 7/22/1837 S.E., married: Rosalia ALIOTO, B-1788 S.E., D- 8//3/1859 S.E. Their children: Ninfa B- 9/20/1807 S.E., Giovanni B-10/4/1809 S.E., Filippo B-abt. 1810, Francesco B- 3/17/1811, Stefano B- 1817 S.E., Giuseppe B-1/30/1821 S.E., Providenza Antonia B-1824 S.E.
Giovanni BUSALACCHI B-10/4/1809 S.E., D- 8/7/1891 S.E.. Married: Agata BALISTRERI, B-2/19/1819 S.E.D-9/19/1900 S.E.. Their son was: Stefano, B-10/8/1856 S.E., D- unknown - Philadelphia, PA, Married: Anna BALISTRERI, B- 3/10/1858, D- Unknown. Their children: Giovanna BUSALACCHI B-11/4/1888 S.E.

Gaeatano B-7/18/1891 S. E., Rosalia B- 3/21/1894

I was told that Stefano was employed by the Italian Merchant Marine. I am seeking info on Stefano as follows: when was his entry into the USA?, Was he ever naturalized?, Where did he live in PA.

Our member Timothy Kenney is asking for information from people who lived in the Bay View area in Milwaukee. His plan is to develop a website to preserve the culture and flavor of the neighborhood and to continue the research on the area and the Italian Families that lived there. To develop the site he needs photo's, family information and documents from the old neighborhood. If you are interested, contact Timothy at kenney1880@yahoo.com or by phone at (414) 483-4340.

Harry Johnston is searching for Alberti. Sindoni. Volpe, Maglio, and Sindoni. He believes that the Alberti's were from near Messini, and the Sindoni's were from St. Stefino.

Catherine Souse is searching for information about her family. Catherine writes: “I am looking for information on my grandfather, Vincenzo Corroo(Corrao). What I know is that he was born in Sant'Agata in 1872 and came to Milwaukee between 1900 and 1905. He was known as "Jim" Corroo. He married Caterina Alioto in 1899. His brother, William, was a widower with five sons and also lived in Milwaukee.  He may also have had a sister who lived in Cleveland, Ohio. I have a copy of his marriage certificate which gives his father's name as Antonino. It's hard to read his mother's maiden name but it looks like Cuncella or Cumella. Her first name was Filomena. She was also from Sant'Agata. My grandfather was in the restaurant business and owned buildings at 27th and Hopkins and 27th and Clybourn. I am also interested if anyone might know of his sister. I have no other information on her. Also any information on his mother. My dad's name was Nunzio Vincent - he went by "Vince" - and he was also in the tavern and restaurant business, along with his brother Joe, in Milwaukee.”

          Submitted by George Koleas (1527)